Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) Program - Transitional Living Program (TLP) and Maternity Group Home (MGH) Program

Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) Program - Transitional Living Program (TLP) and Maternity Group Home (MGH) Program is sponsored by Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) - Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF) and Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB).

This program provides safe, stable, and appropriate housing for youth ages 16 to under 22 years of age and their young families who are experiencing homelessness. It addresses the need for long-term, supportive assistance beyond emergency shelter programs.

* PERFORMANCE STANDARDS, DATA COLLECTION, AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS * BCP PERFORMANCE STANDARDS, DATA COLLECTION, AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS * TLP PERFORMANCE STANDARDS, DATA COLLECTION, AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS * MGH PERFORMANCE STANDARDS, DATA COLLECTION, AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS * SOP PERFORMANCE STANDARDS, DATA COLLECTION, AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS * ADMINISTRATIVE AND NATIONAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS ## NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY APPLICATION INFORMATION This page provides necessary information for organizations preparing an application for a Division of Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) grant award.

Get general information on applying for ACF grants. ## PERFORMANCE STANDARDS, DATA COLLECTION, AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS RHY grant recipients are legislatively required to keep adequate statistical records profiling the youth and families assisted under their federal grant.

Effective April 2015, the Runaway and Homeless Youth Homelessness Management Information System (RHY-HMIS) served as the designated data collection system, enabling recipients to collect and transmit client-level data to FYSB on a semi-annual basis.

RHY award recipients are required to work with other homeless service providers on data collection efforts, technical assistance provision, and to participate in service delivery coordination. RHY recipients may use FYSB grant funds to cover charges associated with CoC training and access to the RHY-HMIS software.

Recipients must identify the projected number of active RHY-HMIS users necessary to collect data on all clients served using RHY grant funding and report the timely and accurate data to FYSB through semiannual data upload processes and ensure that data quality thresholds are met.

Recipients must also receive access to HMIS by a HMIS lead in the CoC where the recipient operates and receive training on its use and reporting functionalities. The contact information for the HMIS lead in every CoC may be found here. Recipients must report to the HMIS lead any technical or structural issues on the use of HMIS.

Recipients must submit data collected in RHY-HMIS to FYSB during a semi-annual upload process by generating a report in HMIS with de-identified name, date of birth, and Social Security numbers of all youth/young adults served with FYSB funding. Recipients must assign one point of contact for uploading the client-level data to FYSB.

This will assist FYSB in creating and maintaining a formal communications link for sharing important updates and system developments. FYSB received approval from the OMB for information collection under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) on the RHY grant program performance standards for post-award reporting. The RHY-HMIS Report process is found under PRA OMB Control Number 0970-0573, expiration date 5/31/2027.

The Division of Runaway and Homeless Youth has developed corresponding measures in cases where recipients’ compliance with performance standards may be evaluated using existing RHY-HMIS elements. Some of these measures contain specific targets informed by past RHY program data that recipients are required to meet. In other cases, performance standards required by the Final Rule do not correspond to existing RHY-HMIS data elements.

For these performance standards, recipients must use the existing PPR to report these data. Additional materials and instructions regarding RHY-HMIS use and reporting for RHY recipients may be found here. Recipients are not required to obtain consent to collect data on individual clients in an RHY-HMIS or record information about that client in other records.

Consent is required, however, for data to be shared within an RHY-HMIS solution across all programs participating in that RHY-HMIS. The parent or legal guardian of youth under the age of 18 must provide the consent to share data, whereas young adults 18 years or older are able to provide consent by themselves to share their data.

ACF may elect not to fund applicants and/or partnering organizations that have previously demonstrated an inability to adhere to ACF, Administration on Children Youth and Families (ACYF), or Division of RHY reporting requirements in the past.

## BCP PERFORMANCE STANDARDS, DATA COLLECTION, AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS The RHY Rule requires BCP grant recipients to collect data that demonstrate their ability to meet the performance standards described in Section 1351. 30 of the RHY Rule.

Specifically, BCP projects are responsible for consistently enhancing four core outcome areas for youth, which include social and emotional well-being, permanent connections, education or employment, and safe and stable housing. Through the provision of temporary emergency shelter and services, indicators of improvements include, but are not limited to, the following: 1.

**Social and Emotional Well-Being:** Clients will be connected to trauma-informed systems of care providers to assist and promote positive physical health, substance abuse treatment, mental health, personal safety (e.g., identify potential trafficking situations), and reduce sexual risk behaviors they may face. 2.

**Permanent Connections:** Clients will experience positive ongoing attachments to families, communities, schools, and other social networks. 3. **Education or Employment:** Clients will be connected to school or vocational training programs, improve interviewing and job attainment skills, and obtain and maintain employment.

4. **Safe and Stable housing:** Clients will transition to safe and stable housing that appropriately matches their level of need after leaving a BCP to include: moving in with family, when appropriate, or other permanent supportive housing, rapid re-housing, residential treatment center, or substance abuse treatment facility.

Detailed guidance, training, and technical assistance on how to collect and report data on these performance standards will be provided to RHY grant recipients in advance of reporting deadlines. Recipients' performance will be monitored based on their compliance with these performance standards and measures. Recipients’ performance on these standards may also be used when deciding which RHY application to fund in future NOFOs.

The table below summarizes the performance standards and corresponding measures, as well as the data collection instrument that grant recipients are required to use for each measure. | Recipients will enhance outcomes for youth in the core area of permanent connections.

| Recipients will report the percentage of youth upon exiting BCP shelter who report that there is at least one adult in their life, other than RHY program staff, to whom they can go for advice or emotional support. | PPR | | Recipients will enhance outcomes for youth in the core area of stable housing.

| For recipients that provide street-based and home-based services, 85 percent of youth receiving services will be diverted from entering an emergency shelter and will exit to another safe and stable destination. | RHY-HMIS | | Recipients will ensure that youth receive counseling services that are trauma informed and match the individual needs of each client.

| Recipients will report the type of counseling each youth received (individual, family, and/or group counseling), the participation rate based on a youth’s service plan or treatment plan, and the completion rate based on the youth’s service plan or treatment plan | PPR | | Recipients that choose to provide street-based services, homebased services, and/or testing for sexually transmitted diseases will ensure youth receive the appropriate services.

| Recipients will report the completion rate for each service provided based on the youth’s service or treatment plan. | PPR | ## TLP PERFORMANCE STANDARDS, DATA COLLECTION, AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS All TLP recipients need to record data for youth/young adults individually contacted and record data for all youth engaged with the program in RHY-HMIS.

The RHY Rule requires TLP recipients to collect data that demonstrate their ability to meet the performance standards described in section 1351. 31 of the RHY Rule. Specifically, TLP projects are responsible for consistently enhancing four core outcome areas for youth, to include: 1) social and emotional well-being; 2) permanent connections; 3) education or employment; and 4) safe and stable housing.

Projects collect and report on data via the RHY-Homeless Management Information System (RHY-HMIS) and the ACF Performance Progress Report (PPR) on data standards. The ACF PPR is found under the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number 0970-0406. Through the provision of safe and stable housing and services, indicators of improvements include, but are not limited to: 1.

**Social and Emotional Well-Being:** Clients will be connected to trauma-informed, system of care providers to assist and promote positive physical health, substance abuse treatment, mental health, personal safety (e.g., identify potential trafficking situations), and reduce sexual risk behaviors they may face. 2.

**Permanent Connections:** Clients will experience positive ongoing attachments to families, communities, schools, and other social networks. 3. **Education or Employment:** Clients will connect to school or vocational training programs, improve interviewing and job attainment skills, and obtain and maintain employment.

4. **Safe and Stable housing:** Clients will transition to safe and stable housing that appropriately matches their level of need after leaving a TLP to include: moving in with family, when appropriate, or other permanent supportive housing, residential treatment center, or substance abuse treatment facility. Recipients’ performance will be monitored based on their compliance with these performance standards and measures.

Recipients’ performance on these standards may also be used when deciding which RHY grantee applications to fund in future NOFOs. The table below summarizes the performance standards and corresponding measures, as well as the data collection instrument that recipients are required to use for each measure. | Recipients will enhance outcomes for youth in the core area of permanent connections.

| Recipients will report the percentage of youth upon exiting a TLP who report that there is at least one adult in their life, other than RHY program staff, they can go to for advice or emotional support. | PPR | ## MGH PERFORMANCE STANDARDS, DATA COLLECTION, AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS The RHY Rule, 45 CFR §1351 establishes RHY Program Performance Standards as measures of successful outcomes for MGH clients.

The Performance Standards are used to monitor project performance in achieving the purposes of the RHY Act. The RHY Rule requires MGH recipients to collect data that demonstrate their ability to meet the Performance Standards described in section 1351. 31.

Specifically, MGH projects are responsible for consistently enhancing short-term outcomes for youth in the following four core outcome areas: 1) social and emotional well-being; 2) permanent connections; 3) education or employment; and 4) safe and stable housing. Projects collect and report on data via the RHY-Homeless Management Information System (RHY-HMIS) and the ACF Performance Progress Report (PPR) on data standards.

The ACF PPR is found under the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Control Number 0970-0406. Through the provision of safe and stable housing and services, indicators of improvements include, but are not limited to: 1.

**Social and Emotional Well-Being:** Clients will be connected to trauma-informed, system of care providers to assist and promote positive physical health, substance abuse treatment, mental health, personal safety (e.g., identify potential trafficking situations), and reduce sexual risk behaviors they may face. 2.

**Permanent Connections:** Clients will experience positive ongoing attachments to families, communities, schools, and other social networks. 3. **Education or Employment:** Clients will connect to school or vocational training programs, improve interviewing and job attainment skills, and obtain and maintain employment.

4. **Safe and Stable housing:** Clients will transition to safe and stable housing that appropriately matches their level of need after leaving an MGH to include: moving in with family, when appropriate, or other permanent supportive housing, residential treatment center, or substance abuse treatment facility.

Detailed guidance, training, and technical assistance on how to collect and report data on these performance standards will be provided to MGH award recipients in advance of reporting deadlines. MGH recipients’ performance will be monitored based on their compliance with these performance standards and measures. Recipients’ performance on these standards may also be used when deciding which applications to fund in future NOFOs.

The table below summarizes the MGH performance standards and corresponding measures, as well as the data collection instrument that recipients are required to use for each measure. | Recipients will enhance outcomes for youth/young adults in the core area of permanent connections.

| Recipients will report the percentage of youth/young adults upon exiting the MGH who report that there is at least one adult in their life, other than RHY program staff, to whom they can go for advice or emotional support. | PPR | ## SOP PERFORMANCE STANDARDS, DATA COLLECTION, AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS The RHY Rule establishes RHY program performance standards as measures of successful outcomes for youth.

The performance standards are used to monitor project performance in achieving the purposes of the RHY Act. SOP award recipients must collect and report on data via the RHY-HMIS and the Performance Progress Report (PPR) on data standards. Reporting is to include contacts with runaway, homeless, and street youth, and the percentage of youth engaged in the SOP project.

For the purposes of the SOP performance standards, "date of engagement" is defined as the date an interactive client relationship results in a deliberate client assessment or the beginning of a case plan. Detailed guidance, training, and technical assistance on how to collect and report data on these performance standards will be provided to SOP award recipients in advance of reporting deadlines.

SOP award recipients' performance will be monitored based on their compliance with these performance standards and measures. Recipients’ performance on these standards may also be used when deciding which applications to fund in future NOFOs. The table below summarizes the performance standards and corresponding measures, as well as the data collection instrument that recipients are required to use for each measure.

For the purposes of the SOP performance standards, "engagement" is defined as an interactive client relationship resulting in a deliberate client assessment or the beginning of a case plan. Recipients of RHY grants may opt to transfer a portion of substantive programmatic work to other organizations through subaward(s). The prime recipient must maintain a substantive role in the project.

ACF defines a substantive role as conducting activities and/or providing services funded under the award that are necessary and integral to the completion of the project. Subrecipient monitoring activities alone as specified in 45 CFR § 75. 352 do not constitute a substantive role.

Furthermore, ACF does not fund awards where the role of the applicant is primarily to serve as a conduit for passing funds to other organizations unless that arrangement is authorized by statute. Subrecipient(s) must meet the eligibility requirements identified in the _Eligible Applicants_ section of the respective notice of funding opportunity (NOFO).

Additionally, all subrecipient(s) must obtain a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) assigned by the System for Award Management (SAM), if they do not already have one. If known at the time of application submission, the applicant must disclose their intent to enter into subaward arrangements or third-party agreements in their application.

For each proposed subaward/third-party agreement, the applicant must include a description of the work to be performed by the subrecipient(s). If not applicable, the application must state there is no intention to enter into subaward arrangements or third-party agreements.

For applicants proposing to use subaward(s), if the total amount budgeted for subawards exceeds 50 percent of total direct costs for the budget period, the applicant must provide a justification for subawarding the portion of the project and must explain how the prime recipient plans to maintain a substantive role in the project.

Applicants must explain why the participation of the subrecipient is necessary, and why the applicant cannot achieve the objectives without the subrecipient(s)’ participation. For subawards, RHY grant applicants must provide a detailed budget and budget narrative for each subaward, by entity name, along with the same justifications referred to in these budget and budget justification instructions.

## ADMINISTRATIVE AND NATIONAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS An RHY grant application funded with the release of federal funds through a grant award does not constitute or imply compliance with federal regulations. Funded organizations are responsible for ensuring that their activities comply with all applicable federal regulations. Please review all HHS regulatory provisions for Termination at 2 CFR § 200.

340. ### **HHS Grants Policy Statement** The HHS Grants Policy Statement (HHS GPS) is the Department of Health and Human Services' single policy guide for discretionary grants and cooperative agreements. ACF grant awards are subject to the requirements of the HHS GPS, which covers basic grants processes, standard terms and conditions, and points of contact, as well as important agency-specific requirements.

The general terms and conditions in the HHS GPS will apply as indicated unless there are statutory, regulatory, or award-specific requirements to the contrary that are specified in the a notice of award (NoA). The HHS GPS is available here.

### **Equal Treatment of Faith-Based Organizations** A faith-based organization that participates in any RHY grant program will retain its independence from the federal government and may continue to carry out its mission consistent with religious freedom, nondiscrimination, and conscience protections in federal law, including the Free Speech and Free Exercise Clauses of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (42 U.S.C.

2000bb _et seq. _), the Coats-Snowe Amendment (42 U.S.C. 238n), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C.

2000e—1(a) and 2000e—2(e)), Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. 12113(d)(2), section 1553 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (42 U.S.C. 18113), the Weldon Amendment (e.g., Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020, Public Law 116—94, 133 Stat.

2534, 2607, div. A, sec. 507(d) (Dec.

20, 2019)), or any related or similar federal laws or regulations. Religious accommodations may also be sought under many of these religious freedom and conscience protection laws. Consistent with 45 CFR § 87.

3(b)), a faith-based organization that receives direct financial assistance from HHS may not engage in any explicitly religious activities (including activities that involve overt religious content such as worship, religious instruction, or proselytization) as part of the programs or services funded with direct financial assistance from the HHS awarding agency.

Such an organization, whether faith-based or not, also shall not, in providing services funded by HHS, discriminate against a program beneficiary or prospective program beneficiary on the basis of religion, a religious belief, a refusal to hold a religious belief, or a refusal to attend or participate in a religious practice, as provided in 45 CFR § 87. 3(d)).

### **Runaway and Homeless Youth Act Final Rule** On December 20, 2016, FYSB published a rule to improve performance standards and program requirements for runaway and homeless youth programs.

This rule builds upon existing policies and guidance to better support runaway and homeless youth by strengthening training and professional development for service providers, defining safe and appropriate exits from homelessness, requiring aftercare planning for all youth exiting programs, and improving nondiscrimination protections for youth. The rule also clarifies statutory changes made to the RHY Act of 2008.

All RHY recipients must comply with the rule and the grant award’s retrospective notification of funding opportunity (NOFO) reflects the new requirements in the rule (45 CFR Part 1351). ### **Program Administration Requirements** Applicants are advised that statutory requirements applicable to all RHY grants can be found in the RHY Act, 34 U.S.C.) 11201-11281.

**Staff safety:**Projects must have safety protocols for all workers. **Background checks:**Pursuant to 45 CFR § 1351.

23(j) of the RHY Final Rule, projects must have a plan to ensure background checks are completed on all employees, contractors, volunteers, and consultants who have regular and unsupervised private contact with youth served by the organization, and on all adults who reside in or operate host homes, beginning on October 1, 2017.

Required background checks are to include state or tribal criminal history records including fingerprint checks, sex offender registry check, and any other checks required by state law. Additionally, to the extent the project can, the plan should include Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) criminal history records including fingerprint checks and child abuse and neglect registry checks.

If a project is unable to obtain FBI criminal history information or child abuse and neglect registry information, the agency plan must detail efforts to obtain such information and the impediments to doing so.

In addition, as appropriate to job functions, projects must also include verification of educational credentials and employment experience, the individual’s driving records (for those who will transport youth), and professional licensing records. **Emergency Preparedness Plan:**Pursuant to 45 CFR § 1351.

23(g) of the RHY Rule, projects must have a plan for routine preventative maintenance of facilities as well as preparedness, response, and recovery efforts. The plan should contain strategies for addressing evacuation; security; food; medical supplies; and notification of youths’ families, as appropriate.

In the event of an evacuation due to specific facility issues, such as fire, loss of utilities, or authorities, a designated alternative location needs to be included in the plan.

_**For SOP projects**_: The plan must contain methods for alerting youth that have been contacted or engaged by the SOP project to where emergency community resources and shelter are available in the event of an emergency (e.g., natural disasters, hurricanes, tornadoes, flood, public health emergencies), as well as any changes in how outreach schedules or drop-in center hours may be impacted.

**Licensing Requirement**: Projects must have plans to ensure that all shelters are licensed and any shelter that the project regularly refers clients to has evidence of current licensure, in states and/or localities with licensure requirements. Failure to adhere to licensing requirements outlined in 45 CFR § 1351. 23(h) may result in disallowance of federal funds.

**Training plan**: Projects must ensure that all paid and volunteer workers are trained on the core competencies of youth workers necessary to carry out the objectives and activities of the project.

This shall include, but is not limited to, PYD, trauma-informed care, evidence-informed practices, street outreach intervention, human trafficking (sex and labor trafficking), sexual exploitation, harm reduction, assessment and case management, worker safety, understanding the diversity and culture of life on the street, safe and ethical practices, and community resources for well-being and self-sufficiency.

Additionally, RHY grant recipients are required to increase their capacity to identify and provide services and/or service referrals to trafficked youth by participating in professional training and adding human trafficking elements into existing screening and assessment tools.

Recipients are encouraged to integrate human trafficking prevention and intervention efforts to minimize these incidents among vulnerable youth and effectively identify trafficked youth. **Serving Youth Who Run Away from Foster Care or Correctional Institutions**: Pursuant to 45 CFR § 1351.

23(e) and (f), projects must develop and implement a plan for addressing youth under the age of 18 who have run away from foster care placement or correctional institutions, in accordance with federal, state, or local laws or regulations that apply to these situations.

Projects must also take steps to ensure that youth who, are or should be, under the legal jurisdiction of the juvenile justice or child welfare systems obtain and receive services from those systems until they are released from the jurisdiction of those systems. **Governance and Fiscal Controls:**Organizations must have governance structure, fiscal control, and accountability procedures in place.

**Technical Assistance, Monitoring, and Short-Term Training:**By signing and submitting the application and pursuant to 45 CFR § 1351. 23(a) of the RHY Final Rule, RHY award recipients agree to receive and participate in technical assistance, monitoring, and short-term training as recommended by federal staff, to ensure there is flexibility for the type of technique used to support quality programming and implementation.

It is not a requirement that every staff person receives training in every subject offered. However, all youth-serving workers on staff should receive training sufficient to meet the stated core competencies of youth workers. Training and technical assistance (TTA) is free to RHY grantees through RHYTTAC.

Services include regionally based technical assistance clinics, training sessions, training of trainers, e-learning, webinars, and annual national and regional recipient training events. Recipients are strongly encouraged to participate in human trafficking training and activities offered by RHYTTAC. More information is available at www.

rhyttac. net. In addition, all recipients must budget annually the costs of sending at least one key staff person to attend the in-person Annual National RHY Recipient Training.

The list of TTA options reflect primarily the evolution and expansion over the years of the TTA program, and all items listed are currently conducted under the program.

Recipients must participate in technical assistance or short-term training as a condition of funding, as determined necessary by HHS, in areas such as, but not limited to, the following: * Aftercare services or counseling; * Core competencies of youth workers; * Crisis intervention techniques; * Development of coordinated networks of private non-profit agencies and/or public agencies to provide services; * Ethics and staff safety; * Low cost community alternatives for runaway or otherwise homeless youth; * Positive Youth Development; * Risk and protective factors related to youth homelessness; * Screening and assessment practices; * Shelter facility staff development; * Human trafficking (sex and labor trafficking); * Trauma and the effects of trauma on youth; * Use of evidence-based and evidence-informed interventions; and * Youth and family counseling.

**Coordination with the RHY National Communication System:** Recipients must coordinate their activities with the 24-hour, national, toll-free and internet communication system, which links RHY projects and other service providers with runaway or otherwise homeless youth, as appropriate to the specific activities provided by the recipient. **Confidentiality:**Pursuant to 45 CFR § 1351.

21 of the RHY Rule, no records containing the identity of individual youth, including, but not limited to, lists of names, addresses, photographs, or records of evaluation of individuals served by a RHY project, may be disclosed or transferred to any individual or to any public or private agency, except research, evaluation, and statistical reports funded by grants provided under section 343 of the RHY Act.

These records are allowed to be based on individual data, but only if such data are de-identified in ways that preclude disclosing information on identifiable individuals. Additionally, youth served by an RHY project shall have the right to review their records to correct a record or file a statement of disagreement and to be apprised of the individuals who have reviewed their records.

Finally, HHS policies regarding confidential information and experimentation and treatment shall not apply if HHS finds that state law is more protective of the rights of runaway or homeless youth. Recipients must ensure that all confidential, sensitive information and records will be properly handled and safeguarded.

Recipients must have a secure process that allows clients to review their records, correct a record, or file a statement of disagreement, and be apprised of all individuals and entities that have reviewed their records. 1. the percentage and dollar amount of the total costs of the program or project funded with federal money; and 2.

the percentage and dollar amount of the total costs of the project or program funded by non-governmental sources.

When issuing statements resulting from activities supported by HHS financial assistance, the recipient entity must include an acknowledgement of federal assistance using this statement: "This [project/publication/program/website, etc.] [is/was] supported by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) of the United States (U.S.) Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $XX with XX percentage funded by ACF/HHS and $XX amount and XX percentage funded by non-government source(s).

The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, ACF/HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit the ACF website, https://www. acf.

hhs. gov/administrative-and-national-policy-requirements. **AFTERCARE:**Services provided beyond the period of BCP, TLP, and/or MGH residential or homebased services that offer continuity and supportive follow-up to youth served by the program.

(45 CFR § 1351.

1) **BACKGROUND CHECK:**The review of an individual employee's or employment applicant's personal information, which shall include state or tribal criminal history records (including fingerprint checks) FBI criminal history records, including fingerprint checks, to the extent FYSB determines this to be practicable, and specifies the requirement in a NOFO that is applicable to a grantee's award; a child abuse and neglect registry check, to the extent FYSB determines this to be practicable and specifies the requirement in a NOFO that is applicable to a grantee's award; and sex offender registry check for all employees, consultants, contractors, and volunteers who have regular, unsupervised contact with individual youth, and for all adult occupants of host homes.

(45 CFR § 1351. 1) **CASE MANAGEMENT:**Identifying and assessing the needs of the client, their dependent children, and, as appropriate, arranging, coordinating, monitoring, evaluating, and advocating for a package of services to meet their specific needs. (45 CFR § 1351.

1) **CLIENT:**A runaway, homeless, or street youth/young adult, or a youth/young adult at risk of running away or becoming homeless, who is served by a program grantee. (45 CFR § 1351. 1) **CONGREGATE CARE:**A shelter type, not family home, that combines living quarters and restroom facilities with centralized dining services, shared living spaces, and access to social and recreational activities.

(45 CFR § 1351. 1) **CONTACT**: The engagement between Street Outreach Program staff and youth who are at risk of homelessness or runaway status or homeless youth in need of services that could reasonably lead to shelter or significant harm reduction. Contact may occur on the streets, at a drop-in center, or at other locations known to be frequented by homeless, runaway, or street youth.

(45 CFR § 1351.

1) **CONTINUUMS OF CARE (CoCs)**_:_ HUD's definition of a program designed to promote communitywide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness; provide funding for efforts by non-profit providers, and state and local governments to quickly rehouse homeless individuals and families while minimizing the trauma and dislocation caused to homeless individuals, families, and communities by homelessness; promote access to and effect utilization of mainstream programs by homeless individuals and families; and optimize self-sufficiency among individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

(For the purposes of RHY NOFOs) **CORE COMPETENCIES OF YOUTH WORKER:** See 45 CFR § 1351. 1 **COUNSELING SERVICES:** See 45 CFR § 1351. 1 **CRISIS STABILIZATION SERVICES:** Direct services that assist with de-escalating the severity of a person's level of distress and/or need for urgent care associated with a substance use, mental health, and/or victimization issue.

(For the purposes of RHY NOFOs) **DATE OF ENGAGEMENT:** The date an interactive client relationship results in a deliberate client assessment or the beginning of a case plan.

(For the purposes of RHY NOFOs) **DROP-IN CENTER:**A place operated and staffed for runaway and homeless youth that clients can visit without an appointment to get advice or information, to receive services or service referrals, or to meet other runaway or homeless youth. (45 CFR § 1351. 1) **DRUG